Training Pathways
Applicants for the Australian General Practice Training elect to train in either a Rural Pathway or General Pathway.
Rural Pathway
The Rural Pathway is designed for doctors willing to commit to undertake the majority of their training in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Some overseas-trained or overseas-born doctors affected by Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the 10-year moratorium) may be required to join the Rural Pathway and are ineligible for the General Pathway.
The 10-year moratorium provides that Medicare benefits are not payable for professional services provided by overseas-trained doctors or international doctors trained in Australia. This restriction is generally for a period of 10-years, starting from the time they first become registered with an Australian state or territory medical board.
Rural Pathway areas are designated as Remoteness Areas (RAs) 2 to 5, see ASGC-RA
General Pathway
The General Pathway is for doctors who wish to train in urban areas. General Pathway GP Registrars are required to undertake a minimum of 12 months training in rural and/or outer metropolitan locations.
ASGC-RA
From 1 July 2010, the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) system will be replaced by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC‐RA) system.
The General Training Pathway will apply in Remoteness Area (RA) 1-5 locations and the Rural Pathway will apply in RA 2-5 locations.
The ASGC-RA has been developmed by the Australian Bureau of Startistics, using 2006 Census data, and is widely used by Commonwealth and State agenies. The ASGC-RA groups regions that share remoteness characteristics into RA groups. RA 1 is major cities and can be defined as urban locations; RAs 2 to 5 are grouped in progressively more remote locations, and can be defined as regional or remote.
For more information about how the ASGC‐RA categories are calculated or to look up the RA of a location, please refer to the Doctor Connect website.
The RA classification for each practice can be found in the practice profiles under Regions.
